"I think you forget that Madeline is not a maiden anymore, who lives by the mercy of the Heaven or Hell, but she is her own person," Calhoun continued his words that were firm and clear. "She might have her wings now but you are forgetting she is married to me. If it makes things more clear, we have already consummated our marriage, which makes it a no to go to Heaven right now."
Michael gritted his teeth, "We can still fix it. God shows mercy on everyone, and he will help in purifying her mind, and she will be compatible to stay in Heaven under our guidance."
"Madeline," spoke Paschar in a gentle and polite tone, his grey eyes looking at her. "We are only doing what is best for you. The Heaven forbids the relation of an angel with humans. A demon is an impossible thing."
"But I am not part of Heaven," reasoned Madeline, "I started my life here, in this place. You cannot take me away from here by force and without my permission."
"Then you leave us no choice," said Michael, and every person in the room suddenly turned stiff, staring at each other and the atmosphere turned tense. "We will need to take you by force then, and once your memories will be erased, you will be able to live in Heaven."
Calhoun pushed Madeline behind him, shielding as well as protecting her. "I don't get why Heaven is so hell-bent on wanting her, when it was only a few days ago, for years actually, that none of you bothered to look for her or take care of her. What is with this sudden love that seems unnatural."
Even Madeline didn't understand this part. For years she had suffered, but none of the angels had come to offer their help to her, and now suddenly they wanted her to be part of Heaven.
"They are scared, aren't they?" murmured Vladimir who was tired of listening to the angels bullshit.
"Scared about what?" questioned Madeline.
Michael's bright blue eyes looked as if it was going to burn the building and the demons who were in front of him. "The Heavens are scared of nothing."
"Are you sure about it?" asked Vladimir. "Madeline is not just an angel, but she's a dark angel. You are scared and worried about the future, thinking if she will be used to go against the Heaven."
"That's nonsense!" Michael rolled his eyes.
"Then why do you insist that she has to live in Heaven?" Calhoun was not going to let them take Madeline away from him or from this world. "She has no interest."
"I have killed people. A lot of them," added Madeline just to remind them if the angels had forgotten about it.
"Which means all you need to do is kill someone or do something bad so that Heaven will not be able to take you back," Calhoun responded, suggesting Madeline so that she would not have to go. "But looking at how things have gone so far, I would say that they would still take you back," his eyes then shifted back at the angels, "You plan to cage her so that she will never rebel."
"I have no interest in it," said Madeline. "I would never do that, so please."
"The angels don't trust anyone, dear," commented Vladimir, and Michael glared at him.
"And who do you think is the reason for it?" asked Michael being oblivious.
"You and the others?" Vladimir shrugged his shoulders, and Paschar was ready to step forward if Michael didn't stop him.
"You were a good angel before. What happened to you?" asked Michael with a look of disappointment in his eyes. "You were like my brother, so dear to God and loved immensely. God will forgive all his children, come back."
"I will pass," were the quick words from Vladimir. "And don't call me brother, we are not brothers."
Michael gave a long hard stare at all the three of them, his eyes then settled on Madeline who stood behind Calhoun and she peeked her head from there. "If that is your wish, then so be it." Paschar looked confused, and he turned to Michael.
"But we have been given orders to-"
"She doesn't seem to be part of Heaven, and she's corrupted herself in the shadow of the devil. There's no more reason for us to stay here," in a blink of an eye, Michael disappeared from where he had been standing. Madeline felt the breeze when he disappeared as if he had used his angelic wings to leave this place.
Her eyes then fell on Paschar, who stared at her with a grim look on his face. He and Madeline never shared a proper conversation like a father and daughter would do. They had barely even spent time with each other. She didn't know what to say to him but return his stare. After a few seconds, even Paschar disappeared from his place without a word of goodbye.
Vladimir then turned to look at the couple, "Looks like they are finally gone."
Madeline hoped it too. Being part of the angel and fallen angel family had brought her nothing but trouble in her life so far. She doubted she would ever look forward to live a life without knowing the people with whom she had spent weeks and years.
Remembering her sister, Madeline asked, "Do you know where Beth is?"
"I sent Raphael to give her the antidote," answered Calhoun.
They left the building that continued to have smoke move up in the air. As it was night, it wasn't apparent to the people of other towns and villages that something had caught fire in the neighbouring deserted town.